"UFC TONIGHT" SHOW NOTES
Overeem Responds To dos Santos, Henderson and Edgar Pre-UFC 150 Interviews, Plus Le and MacDonald Updates on “UFC
Tonight”
“UFC Tonight” Airs Tuesdays 10:00 PM ET/7:00 PM PT
LOS ANGELES, CA – On this week’s “UFC Tonight,” Guest Host Karyn
Bryant conducts an exclusive interview with Alistair Overeem. Ariel Helwani talks to Lightweight Champ Benson Henderson about this weekend’s rematch with Frankie Edgar, while Bryant and “UFC Tonight” Analyst Kenny Florian interview Edgar on the rematch. Cung Le talks about his fight with Rich Franklin at UFC's first trip to China. Plus, updates on Rory MacDonald, Josh Koscheck and GSP.
Quote of the Week: Overeem talked to dos Santos in person recently about fighting: “I think he’s
afraid to fight me. He was happy that the last fight on May 26 didn’t
happen against us. I approached him at the UFC Fighter Summit in Vegas
and said, let’s do it. Let’s prove something to the world and lets
fight. Then he suddenly acted like he didn’t understand
English and how he wants to fight Cain first. The fact of the matter is
I’m the number-one heavyweight in the world and if he wants to be the
number-one heavyweight, he has to come through me.”
Overeem on getting his license back: “My manager and I have a good relationship with the
(Nevada State Athletic) Commission and we’re taking all steps necessary
and following all the rules and I don’t expect any problems to get my
license from the commission when the time comes.”
Overeem responds to Junior dos Santos’ remarks that he wants to fight him: “First he wants
to fight Cain [Velasquez] and now me. Talk all you want. Come into the
Octagon. I will immediately say yes. Give me and the fans what they
want. But he’s expecting that fight not to happen. I would welcome that
fight and want it to happen. I would say yes
every time to that fight.”
Overeem’s message to dos Santos: “Junior, give me and the fans and the UFC what they want.
You’ve already fought Cain. That would just be another win. But a win
over me would give you the number-one spot. Without a win over me,
they’ll always question your championship. So bring it to the table my
friend.”
“UFC Tonight” Analyst Kenny Florian breaks down the first fight between Frankie Edgar and Benson Henderson: “Edgar adjusts so well in fights and he adjusts even better in
rematches. Frankie has always been very good with changing the tempo. He
went three for three in takedowns before the up-kick in the first
fight, but after the up-kick went two for nine. Henderson
was so successful in landing the more damaging blows, whether it was
with the kicks or submission attempts, he had Frankie Edgar in some
serious trouble. At the end of the day, that is what the judges
remember.”
Henderson on his upcoming fight with Edgar: “I think we’re going to have
some different dance steps this time. But it’s all about who got better
at what they do. I hope the fight and flow will go the same way as
last time and it’ll end up with my hand raised again.”
Henderson on his size advantage over Edgar: “Frankie was being called one of the pound-for-pound
best guys in the Octagon when he was winning and as the champion.
Nobody was saying how small he was then. I think it’s kind of humorous
that it changes when he loses. But I try to use whatever advantage I can
in the Octagon.”
Edgar on how he sees his rematch with Henderson ending: “I am not really big with predications,
but I want to get my hand raised and go home with the belt.”
Edgar on how he will fight differently in this rematch: “I really think I did an ok job
with his size. The up-kick kind of just happened. You don’t see them
too often and when they land they are pretty devastating. It definitely
rang my bell.”
Edgar on what he will change in this next fight: “I think I fought pretty well [in the
first fight]. I think some of the takedowns and kicks I caught, I just
need to capitalize on them a little better this time around.”
Edgar on his mindset coming in as a challenger this fight: “Every fight I fight to win. I
think when you start out and you have your first fight, it’s your
biggest fight to date. As you move on every fight becomes bigger and
bigger
in your mind. It’s a little more motivating since I didn’t get the win
last time and I get a little redemption here.”
Edgar on winning back the belt: “You get accustomed to being called a champion. It’s something
I definitely miss and I am looking forward to getting it back.”
Edgar on going down a weight class and fighting Jose Aldo: “I’m not even going to
acknowledge that question because I am fighting in four days for the
lightweight title, so I’m thinking of Benson Henderson and him alone
right now.”
Florian on who will win Henderson vs. Edgar: “I love both of these guys. They are both
so good. They had such a great fight, such a close fight, but how do
you bet against Frankie Edgar. He has been great at making adjustments
in rematches.”
Florian on Rory MacDonald not being able to fight BJ Penn: “I spoke with his coach, Jonathan
Chambers, and he said Rory was looking very, very sharp. They said the
sharpest they have ever seen him in his preparation against BJ Penn. But
his sparring partner threw a technique you are not supposed to throw
while sparing and cut MacDonald right above
the eye. It was a cut that went right down to the bone. It ended up
needing 38 stitches. They want to keep him out of sparring for a month
and a half, so it looks like that fight is going to be postponed.”
Cung Le about fighting Rich Franklin in China: “Not only does Dana White want it, I want
it. I would love to fight in China, for the UFC’s first time in China. I
will do everything in my power to get there and to be 100 percent. A
contract is not signed yet, I am waiting to get released from my
doctors. They have to follow procedure, but I am
going to get it.”
Florian on Georges St-Pierre’s return: “I talked to GSP’s coaches today, and it looks like
he’ll fight in November in Montreal against Condit. He had his first
sparring session today. They say he looked great and he’ll be ready to
go.”
Florian on the ref’s decision to stop Wagner Prado’s fight against Phil Davis at UFC ON FOX after the eye poke: “It’s not up to the fighter
to determine if they can keep fighting. These guys are tough and even if
they’re missing a limb, they’ll still want to fight. It comes down
to the referee and the doctor, and it’s their decision to do what’s
best to protect the fighter.”
“UFC Tonight” is the official weekly news and information show
of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, airing every Tuesday night at
10:00 PM ET on FUEL TV. The show is co-hosted by veteran UFC fighter and
multiple title contender Kenny Florian. Two-time World MMA Awards Journalist of the Year Ariel Helwani adds insider news.
For a complete listing of FUEL TV shows, go to: http://www.fuel.tv/schedule/. For more information, go to www.fuel.tv/ufctonight and on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/fueltv
Follow FUEL TV and the talent on Twitter at: @fueltv; @UFCTonight; @kennyflorian; @arielhelwani; @karynbryant
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